I am alarmed by the lack of attention this is getting by the general public. This should be a huge wake up call for Watauga Co. as well as throughout the state. I hope the students vote with vengeance in the upcoming elections regardless of the restrictions put in front of them. The GOP is obviously scared of the student population, I say let their voices be loud and clear!!!!

I am alarmed by the lack of attention this is getting by the general public. This should be a huge wake up call for Watauga Co. as well as throughout the state. I hope the students vote with vengeance in the upcoming elections regardless of the restrictions put in front of them. The GOP is obviously scared of the student population, I say let their voices be loud and clear!!!!

I'm glad they closed the App polling site. Why should students be allowed to vote on things that don't affect them?

I agree with all of you. Students are here for about 4 years, and so their input is transitory. At the same time their input does directly affect business and commerce. They should be heard, and whatever polling limitations are placed, they can still voice their concerns and vote. If you, as a voter, feel you are being disenfranchised, use your vote to make it better. If the GOP is making it harder for students to vote, then turn it back on them, ala MLK and drive busses, do rallies and get the disenfranchised to speak up and make a difference. Bitching about it here does nothing.

It seems to me, that Boone/Watauga county has a predominantly Conservative voter base, with a minority of Liberal leaning voters within city limits. That minority of Liberal leaning voters use the 30,000 head, voter block the college creates to their advantage, to have their agendas pushed on a local majority that do not agree with them or want to see them implemented. That's 30,000 mostly Left leaning students that live here for a couple years, vote in local elections, change local policy, and then move away once they graduate. This has undermined local voters for years. The people who actually do live in Watauga county permanently, and have to live with these changes, pushed through by temporary residents. How is that not using the system? The actions of the BOE do seem a bit shady to me, when it comes to students ability to vote in State and Federal elections, but when it comes to local elections, I'm glad to see they're making them at least get off their butts and make an effort if they want to change local policy so badly. Lets not forget, its not just students that have to deal with these changes. I'm personally willing to do so if it gives locals their voices back, even slightly. All I ever hear is how dirty the GOP is, but it seems to me that the left has no problems using students to game the system, nor do they have a problem trying to make it a national issue to do so. Its the pot calling the kettle black.

It seems to me, that Boone/Watauga county has a predominantly Conservative voter base, with a minority of Liberal leaning voters within city limits. That minority of Liberal leaning voters use the 30,000 head, voter block the college creates to their advantage, to have their agendas pushed on a local majority that do not agree with them or want to see them implemented. That's 30,000 mostly Left leaning students that live here for a couple years, vote in local elections, change local policy, and then move away once they graduate. This has undermined local voters for years. The people who actually do live in Watauga county permanently, and have to live with these changes, pushed through by temporary residents. How is that not using the system? The actions of the BOE do seem a bit shady to me, when it comes to students ability to vote in State and Federal elections, but when it comes to local elections, I'm glad to see they're making them at least get off their butts and make an effort if they want to change local policy so badly. Lets not forget, its not just students that have to deal with these changes. I'm personally willing to do so if it gives locals their voices back, even slightly. All I ever hear is how dirty the GOP is, but it seems to me that the left has no problems using students to game the system, nor do they have a problem trying to make it a national issue to do so. Its the pot calling the kettle black.

So are you saying that someone should live in here for, say, six years before they can vote???? They students live here. They should vote.

Personally, I think you should have to live in Boone for one year after you graduate to vote in local elections, or own a home, or be able to somehow prove your intention to become a "permanent" resident of the county. I attended college in another county, and state, and voted by absentee ballot. I felt that I had no business changing policy in a county I had no intention of living in permanently. I also tended to lean toward the Left at that point in my life, as many young students do. I'm not suggesting anything that I wouldn't be willing to follow myself. As I mentioned before; I do not like the way this was brought about. It does hinder a students ability to vote in state and federal elections, that they have every right, and responsibility to do so. As a permanent, life long resident of Watauga county, I'm tired of not being heard, due to a minority using temporary residents who have nothing to lose or no intention of living with the consequences of their actions, to force their agendas into policy. How is that fair, or not gaming the system?

Greg wrote:

<quoted text>So are you saying that someone should live in here for, say, six years before they can vote???? They students live here. They should vote.

While a single student may only be here for 4 years, a student population will always be here. By allowing a single student to vote is giving a voice to a large voting block that has a huge impact on all levels. Should we not allow the elderly to vote because they may well only be around for 4 more years? I think the argument is very flawed.

Personally, I think you should have to live in Boone for one year after you graduate to vote in local elections, or own a home, or be able to somehow prove your intention to become a "permanent" resident of the county. I attended college in another county, and state, and voted by absentee ballot. I felt that I had no business changing policy in a county I had no intention of living in permanently. I also tended to lean toward the Left at that point in my life, as many young students do. I'm not suggesting anything that I wouldn't be willing to follow myself. As I mentioned before; I do not like the way this was brought about. It does hinder a students ability to vote in state and federal elections, that they have every right, and responsibility to do so. As a permanent, life long resident of Watauga county, I'm tired of not being heard, due to a minority using temporary residents who have nothing to lose or no intention of living with the consequences of their actions, to force their agendas into policy. How is that fair, or not gaming the system?<quoted text>

I think the move was bad but I also usually tend to lean towards the GOP platforms. It definitely was a bad move though. It's not ever ok to make it harder for anyone to be able to exercise their right and duty to vote.

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